Archives In Brief

Archives In Brief (AIB) are fact sheets and are an excellent starting point for your research. AIB give you brief historical information on a particular topic, along with a list of the most relevant records in our collection. AIB do not provide entire lists of records relating to a particular topic, but give you practical tips and information to carry out your research.

Highlights the key State records and available indexes, relating to passengers arriving in New South Wales, 1788-1922. While most of the records relate to passengers disembarking in Sydney, records of arrivals in other ports, that are held by State Records, are also included.

Explains your responsibilities when using our facilities and in particular when you handle original (uncopied) State archives. Please remember our reading room staff are on hand to provide expert and professional advice to help you get the most out of your visit.

Provides a brief overview of the major sources held by State Records that relate to police officers in New South Wales. Other records may be identified in Archives Investigator, and Short Guide 10: Professions and Occupations.

Provides a brief overview of the sources held by State Records, other than those listed in Archives in Brief 1, that relate to immigrant arrivals in New South Wales.
For instructions on how to find assisted and unassisted immigrants see Archives in Brief 101 (PDF) and Archives in Brief 102 (PDF).

Provides a brief explanation of State archives that document the NSW government's interaction with Aboriginal people from 1788 until today. Additional records may be identified in A Guide to NSW State Archives relating to Aboriginal People, Archives Investigator, and State Records' other guides and finding aids.

This AIB provides a brief history of the construction of the Sydney Opera House, including a chronology of events. It should be used in conjunction with Archives in Brief 30, which provides a brief overview of the major sources held by State Records that relate to the planning, construction and opening of Sydney Opera House.

This Archives In Brief provides a brief overview of the major sources held by State Records that relate to the Courts of General and Quarter Sessions (generally referred to as Quarter Sessions) in New South Wales. Additional records may be identified in Archives Investigator under Quarter Sessions, Clerk of the Peace and Court of Criminal Appeal.

A brief overview of the major resources held by State Records that relate to Chinese settlement in New South Wales. Other records may be identified in Archives Investigator and the Departmental Special Bundle listings, which are available in the reading room.

Provides a brief overview of the major sources held by State Records that relate to the families of convicts and their arrival in New South Wales. This AIB can also be used in conjunction with Archives in Brief 1, Archives in Brief 2 and Archives in Brief 24.

A guide for researchers who may have difficulty tracing individuals because they changed their name. It outlines some of the reasons for changes of name and, if the change of name has been registered, suggests where evidence of the name change may be found.

A brief overview of the major sources held by State Records that relate to the planning, construction and opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932. It is intended for use in conjunction with Archives in Brief 37.

A brief listing of the records in the Archives Resources Kit. Researchers should consult the Guide to Using the Archives Resources Kit. This AIB should be used in conjunction with Archives in Brief 40 Community access points and Archives in Brief 46. Holders of parts of the Archives Resources Kit.

A brief overview of the Aborigines Welfare Board (AWB); NRS 30, Photographs, 1919-66 held by State Records. Other records may be identified in A Guide to NSW State Archives relating to Aboriginal People, Archives Investigator, and State Records' other finding aids.

Outlines the main records held by State Records relating to Aboriginal Schools. Other records may be identified in A Guide to NSW State Archives relating to Aboriginal People, Archives Investigator, and State Records' other finding aids.

A brief overview of the major sources held by State Records that relate to passengers departing from New South Wales. State Records holds the official records of passengers departing from New South Wales. The earliest departure list is dated 1794 but, apart from the Ships musters, 1816-25, outward passenger lists were not regularly maintained until 1898.

Archives in Brief 40 lists the 40 Community Access Points in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. In addition to the these Community Access Points, a number of libraries hold parts of the Archives Resources Kit and these are listed here. Parts of the Archives Resources Kit were originally published as the Genealogical Research Kit. It may be advisable to check with the library as to its holdings prior to your visit.

The bulk of the State Rail Authority's archival collection was transferred to State Records in 2000. This Archives in Brief provides a brief introduction to the collection, and how to access the records.

Provides a brief overview of the major sources held by State Records that relate to the Court of Claims. Other records relating to the Court of Claims may be identified in Archives Investigator and the guide to the Colonial Secretary Correspondence.

Provides a brief overview of the major sources held by State Records that relate to hospital buildings. Other records may be identified in Archives Investigator See also the Guide to the records of the Government (Colonial) Architect 1837-c.1970 (Government Architect's Guide) and the Departmental Special Bundle listings, available in the reading room.

Provides a brief overview of the major sources held by State Records that relate to publicans licenses. Other records may be identified in Archives Investigator and the interim guide Publicans Licenses, available in the reading room.

The cartographic records of the Surveyor General provide some of the most detailed and comprehensive descriptions of the nature use, agricultural potential and occupancy of land in the colony. This AIB provides a brief overview of the history of the office and identifies the major sources. Other records may be identified in Archives Investigator. Records more than 30 years old are open to public access.

The long history of the Office of the Colonial (later Chief) Secretary, and its close association with all aspects of the administration of NSW, meant that it was responsible for the creation of records of major importance to all researchers. This AIB provides a brief overview of the history of the office and identifies the major correspondence series.

Provides a brief overview of the major sources held by State Records that relate to cemeteries. Researchers should consult Archives Investigator and Keyname Search for more detailed information.
Records listed here are open to public access. For information about access to other records consult the Register of Acces Directions.

A brief overview of the major series of, and indexes to, photographic records held by State Records. The series listed provide an example of the range of photographic records held. They include prints, negatives, glass negatives and lantern slides.

Lists the key records. Researchers should consult Archives Investigator, and the interim guide to the records of the Colonial (Government) Architect, which is available in the reading room, for more detailed information. Records more than 30 years old are open to public access.

Lists some of the key records of the NSW Medical Board. Researchers should consult Archives Investigator as well as Short Guide 10: Professions and Occupations for more detailed information. Details about later transfers of records from the NSW Medical Board may be obtained from the staff in the reading room. Records more than 30 years old are open to public access.

Provides a brief overview of the major sources held by State Records that relate to Italian settlement in New South Wales. Other records may be identified in Archives Investigator, and the Departmental Special Bundle listings, which are available in the reading room.

Provides guidance on how to access records relating to Aboriginal people held as NSW State archives. It also provides contact details for accessing records relating to Aboriginal people held in other States and Territories.

A brief overview of the Parish Map Preservation Project, a joint initiative of State Records NSW, the former Department of Information Technology and Management and the former Department of Land and Water Conservation (now Land and Property Information NSW).

Probate documents include the last will and testament, and any codicils (additions or revocations to the will). A grant of probate is the authority given by the Supreme Court NSW to the executor(s) to deal with a deceased person's estate.

Provides a brief overview of the Trigonometrical (Trig) Survey of the City of Sydney 1865, NRS 9929 and the recent project to make it available on CD-ROM. For further information about the Survey consult Archives Investigator. You can also find information about the Survey and the CD-ROM project in Vital Signs No. 4 March 2003.

Sets out our guidelines for the use of digital cameras and scanners in the reading room. It provides information about the sorts of records that can be copied by digital cameras or scanners and explains your responsibilities when handling records.

Instructions on how to access records relating to the conditional purchase of land in NSW from 1862 to 1951. Information on the conditional purchase scheme, also known as 'free selection before survey', and a list of the major record series can be found in Archives in Brief 93.

Outlines your rights and responsibilities when applying to have an open to public access (OPA) direction made for records in the open access period not already covered by an access direction. For further information on access directions see Archives in Brief 9 and the Register of Access Directions.

The State Records Act provides an internal review mechanism for decisions made by public offices to close or open records to public access. The review mechanism helps ensure that public offices are accountable and answerable for decisions that affect your entitlement to access records in the open access period. For further information on access directions see Archives in Brief 9, Archives in Brief 96 and the Register of Access Directions.

An introduction to Photo Investigator, our web-based search and retrieval tool for accessing photographic images. For more information on State Records' photographic collection see Archives in Brief 70. All the photographic images available on Photo Investigator are open to public access.